People

Rita Pardue Production Manager/ Station Imaging Voice

Rita Pardue is KPCC's production manager. She has over 20 years experience in radio and expertise in fundraising, writing, presentation, production and media campaign expertise.

Prior to joining KPCC, Rita was KKLA's "Midday LA" host from 1998 to 2004. Her assignments have taken her to China, Indonesia, Japan and North Korea, where she was a guest of the state.

Pardue is also an actor, musician, and vocalist. Her credits include CBS film, "When The Circus Came to Town," PBS "Math Facts," and WB's "Unhappily Ever After" to mention a few. In the 90s, she was the voice of Mrs. Aahs and a host of other characters on Children's Broadcasting Corporation's "Radio Aahs."

She is the author of the children's book "The Nothing-To-Do Funshop," and a narrator for several of the popular "Hello Kitty" children's books. A few highlights from her career include singing with the original cast of "Jubilee" in Las Vegas' MGM Grand Hotel and performing with the Hollywood Bowl Easter Choir from 2008 to 2011.

Her volunteer work has included 16 years PTA, 5 years as 2nd Lt. in the Civil Air Patrol, 7 years Little League team mom, worship leader/praise band singer at her church, beach clean-up worker, Operation Gratitude worker, spokesperson for World Vision and Food For The Poor ministries.

Stories by Rita Pardue

Opening up a new CD this morning here in Studio E in the Mohn Broadcast Center. It’s my ritual and I look forward to what is going to surprise me today. I am not disappointed hearing this Cannonball-Coltrane Project from Luther Hughes.

Another interesting day in Studio E at the Mohn Broadcast Center. I’m producing an underwriting spot for the Fellowship for the Performing Arts. They will be performing the Screwtape Letters which is a smart, provocative and wickedly funny theatrical adaptation of the C.

I received an email from Anny Celsi offering her latest tune, “Christmas in the Pines.” Celsi is no stranger to KPCC. A few years back, Anny offered to help out in production while I was serving as a foreman on a murder trial.

As I have been working on an underwriting spot for the Tree People, it was obvious to me I was going to be getting involved with this project. I survived the Station Fire ordeal last year living just minutes from the Angeles National Forest.

As there are many grains of sand on the beach, it could not equal the variety of music that comes my way in Studio G at the Mohn Broadcast Center. This week one of my favs to produce was for the upcoming “Much Ado About Nothing” for The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles.

Each day is a new musical trip here in Studio G at the Mohn Broadcast Center. Currently working on spots for the Pearson Foundation and their series of Live Talks Los Angeles conversations including Lewis Black, Simon Winchester and Roger McGuinn to mention just a few of the interesting people on the slate.

It’s been an international musical ride here in Studio G at the Mohn Broadcast Center. Working on several underwriting spots for UCLA Live at Royce Hall including Gamelan Cudamani from Bali, Indonesia; composer and lyricist, Stephen Sondheim will be featured in conversation and jazz saxophonist, Ornette Coleman will be in concert.

Taking me back to my R & B, jazz and gospel roots in St. Louis today while I’m here in Studio G at the Mohn Broadcast Center. Working on a spot for UCLA Live at Royce Hall featuring powerhouse, gospel singer, Mavis Staples and citizen of the world, Billy Bragg.

Currently in Studio G at the Mohn Broadcast Center I’m working on an underwriting spot for the Hammer Museum featuring the Mandala project. Many years ago I attended a demonstration observing the detailed, pain-staking process Tibetan monks do to create a sand mandala.

John and Jeff Clayton of the infamous Clayton Brothers sent me a brand new, hot-off-the-presses CD called, “The New Song and Dance,” which is receiving rave reviews. As I open the package and play the CD here in Studio G at the Mohn Broadcast Center, I am not disappointed.

A challenge in production is to NOT get stuck searching for the "perfect" music bed. It's tempting when you love music like I do. How easy it would be to spend hours playing track after track of brilliant creations alternating with fast forwarding thru trash cuts.

As diverse as the music scene is in Los Angeles, all the more interesting it makes for my day here in Studio G at the Mohn Broadcast Center. I worked on an underwriting spot for the upcoming performances of Corella Ballet Castilla y Leon.